Goeke



Jan. 24, 1956 E. GOE'KE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GAS PRODUCERS COMBINEDWITH REGENERATIVE OVENS Filed June 16, 1951 (7!? ran m r:

2,732,289 K Patented Jan, 24, 1956 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GAS PRODUCERSCOMBINED WITH REGENERATIVE OVENS Application June 16, 1951, Serial No.231,966

11 Claims. (Cl. 48-76) The present invention is concerned with controlapparatus for gas producers that are combined with regenerative ovensfor underfiring the ovens by means'of lean gas produced in the gasproducer and in which the supply of gasification air to the producer forproducing the lean gas is regulated by a throttle member in response tothe gas pressure in the line leading from the producer to theregenerators of the oven. In such a system it is advantageous, and anobject of this invention, to arrange that, after lean gas cocks for theregenerators are opened (these all being closed for a short periodduring the reversal of the heating gas flow) through the regenerativeoven, the throttle member shall be acted on by an electromagnet which isarranged on a regulator controlling this throttle member. Theelectromagnet is energised immediately prior to the opening of the leangas cocks and independently of the gas pressure, so that the throttlemember is, temporarily, fully opened irrespective of the gas pressure,and subsequently the electromagnet returns to its dead condition andreleases its control of the throttle member. The result is to prevent areduced pressure occurring in the gas conduit leading from the producer.to the gas cocks and to make the full gas pressure immediately availablealong the line.

This principle may be carried into elfect starting from the hithertousual operating method in which, during the interruption of thewithdrawal of gas into the ovens from the gas producers, further gas isproduced in the gas producer so that, on opening the corresponding gascocks at the ovens by a conventional reversing mechanism (e. g. a pulleymeans), the delivery of gas can start again immediately. Although theevolution of gas in the gas producer during the period of the changeoverof the regenerative oven, is kept within reduced limits by appropriaterestriction of the quantity of air admitted to the gas producer forgasification during that period, nevertheless the gas actually producedin this period, and which has to be blown ofl at 12 into the atmosphere,does represent a considerable loss due to the lag in time of closing thethrottle valve by the gas pressure in the line leading from the producerto the oven.

An object of this invention is to also prevent such a gas loss due tosuch time lag, or to reduce it to a minimum. This is accomplished in thepresent invention by connecting the throttle member, or an equivalentshut-off valve, located in the conduit conveying the gasification medium(air and steam) to the gas producer, in such manner with the reversingmechanism for the gas cocks of the regenerative oven that, during theperiod of reversal of the heating gas flow of the regenerative oven, thethrottle member, or an equivalent shut-off valve is closed on, orimmediately before, closure of the lean gas cocks of the regenerativeovens by the oven regenerative reversal mechanism (the reversingpulley),

and is re-opened prior to the opening of these cocks by said mechanism.

Preferably the reversing pulley or mechanism controls a switch meanswhich is adapted to open or close the electrical circuit of, forexample, electromagnetic means controlling the governor offluid-actuated devices for operating a shut-off valve in thegasification medium (air and steam) supply conduit to the gas producer.

Where air and steam are used as the gasification medium and are blownthrough a common conduit to the grate of the gas producer, only oneshut-off valve is required to close this conduit, but where these gasesare supplied through separate conduits and a throttle member is used inthe air main, a shut-01f valve as above set forth is also incorporatedin the steam admission conduit.

The shut-off valves can, moreover, be operated mechanically, rather thanelectrically, by the reversing mechanism by a pull on a cable or chain,or through a rod system, directly from the reversing pulley, forinstance when the gas producer is situated in the close vicinity of theregenerative oven plant to be heated.

The arrangement set forth above produces the result that the gasproduction of the gas producer is positively interrupted simultaneouslywith, or immediately before the closure of the gas cocks of theregenerative oven by the reversing apparatus therefor and, at thetermination of the pause in the gas supply to the regenerative ovens, isre-started by this reversal apparatus prior to its opening of the gascocks. Thereby, when the corresponding gas cocks to the ovens are closedgas production to any substantial extent in the gas producer ceases, andwhen the gas cocks begin to open, possibly withsimultaneous orimmediately preceding full'opening of the member regulating the air orsteam admission to the gas producer as set out above, it is ensured thatthe full gas pressure is available at the gas cocks.

Any residual gas evolved after closure of the conduit .through which thegasification medium is supplied to the gas producer is blown off intothe atmosphere by means vof a blowotf device which is adapted to open atthe approved pressure. To prevent a suction effect being set up in thespace beneath the gas producer grate, after the supply of gasificationair and steam are cut oif, as a result of the condensation of steampreviously blown in, and gas consequently flowing back, the inventionfurther makes provision for the incomplete closure of the steam shut-01fvalve or of the air cut-off, or both,

or the furnishing of the shut-off regulator or valve with an opening ofsuch size that, even after the cut-off takes place, a small quantity ofsteam or air, or both, can still reach the gas producer. In anotherarrangement this small amount of gasification medium may be conveyed tothe producer through a by-pass conduit.

Yet another feature of this invention lies in the arrangement of asafety device responsive to the gas pressure in the lean gas conduitbetween the gas producer and the gas cocks of the ovens, this safetydevice being adapted, in the event'that the switch means controlled bythe reversing apparatus does not open to cause the opening of theshut-oft valves for the air and steam supply, to function under theinfluence of the suction set up when the gas cocks are opened, to open aprotective device incorporated in the electrical circuit of theswitchmeans, in such manner that the member for shutting-off the supply ofgasification medium to the gas producer is opened.

A diagrammatic layout of a producer plant combined with a regenerativeoven in accordance with this inven .tion is given in the accompanyingdrawing.

Air for gasification is supplied beneath the grate of a gas producer 1througha main 2 by means of a blower 3. Steam passes to the underside of'the producer grate through a conduit 4.

Arranged in the air main 2 is a regulating member consisting of athrottle valve 5 and this is adapted to control the quantity ofgasification air supplied to the producer during feed of gas to the ovenby pressure in line 10. It is to be appreciated that said regulatingthrottle valve member 5 can take forms other than that indicated, and,for example, can consist of a slide valve, damper, or the like. Thethrottle valve 5, or equivalent, is controlled by a regulator 6 having adiaphragm or 'adjustable mechanism 7 which is controlled by pressure inline and also by the reversing apparatus, through a magnetic core ofsolenoid coil 8, so that, upon opening of the corresponding gas cocks ofthe ovens by the reversing apparatus, the latter also operates the coil8, which operates regulator 6, which operates valve 5 whereby the fullair supply from 2 is immediately made available by pressure in line 10to the producer 1. The regulation of the throttle valve 5 via regulator6 is also effected by the gas pressure existing in the gas conduit 9leading off from the producer to the regenerative oven 49. For thispurpose the regulator 6 is connected to gas conduit 9 through a controlline 10 as conventional.

Gas evolved in the producer 1 passes through a conduit 11 to the lowerpart of a wash tower 12, from the top of which it is withdrawn throughthe conduit 9 and passes through gas cocks 14 and 15, which arediagrammatically indicated, to regenerative (coke) ovensdiagrammatically indicated at 49, although the ovens also may be openhearths or other regenerative ovens.

Provided in the air main 2 between the throttle valve 5 and the producer1 is a shut-off valve 13, and another such valve 16 is provided in thesteam line 4. The shut-off valves 13 and 16 are each adapted to beopened and closed by pressure through the agency of actuating means inthe form of hydraulic mechanisms 17 and 18 each having a pistonconnected to the valve concerned. The pressure fluid is supplied to theupper cylinderspaces of the mechanisms 17 and 18 through a pipe 19, andto their bottom cylinder spaces through a pipe 20.

Control is exercised on the pipes 19 and 20 by a governor 21 which issupplied with pressure fluid through a connection 22. The control valvemember 23 of the governor 21 as shown is in neutral position and isconnected to regulating means for operating the actuating means in theform of a magnetic core 24 actuated by a'solenoid winding 25 which isexcited by current through leads 26 and 27. Incorporated in lead 26 isan operative connection with the reversing machine having movablecontact means in the form of a switch comprising two fixed wipingcontacts 28 and 29 connected with a barrel switch or the like of thereversing machine pulley drum 30. Contact is made between contacts 28and 29 by a movable switch plate or bridge 31 in synchronism with drum30.

The reversing apparatus 30, which -is conventional in the art ofregenerators and so has only been diagrammatically indicated in the formof a pulley, is connected to the operating levers 35 of an aligned rowof-gas cocks 15 in conduit means 9 for one set of regenerators'43 of theoven 49 (one located behind another) by means of a draw element 45 ofcable 47, and is connected to the operating levers 33 of a similarseries of gas cocks 14in conduit means 9, located-on the other side ofthe coke oven battery for the other set of regenerators 44 of the oven49, by a draw element 46 of cable 48.

If now it be assumed that, in the plant depicted, the pulley drum of thereversing apparatus commences to rotate in the direction of the arrow32, the cable or equivalent 47 pulls over the levers 35 from their openfull line position at the right in the drawing into the closed dottedline position indicated in broken lines -(i. e. to the left in thedrawing) and thus closes the previously-open cocks 15, the gas cocks 14at that time being alreadyin their closed position, with levers 33 infull line to the left in the drawing.

grammatically shown.

During this closure of the gas cocks 15, the contact plate 31 of thebarrel switch rotating in synchronism with the pulley drum 30 bridgescontacts 28 and 29, whereby the circuit through solenoid coil 25 isclosed. The magnetic core 24 of the solenoid coil 25 is accordinglyretracted and the sliding valve body 23 connected thereto is movedupwards so as to allow pressure fluid to pass from connection 22 intopipes 19, and thence into the upper cylinder spaces of hydraulicmechanisms 17 and 18 above the piston therein as conventional in thehydraulic sequence control art.

As a result the shut-01f valves 13 and 16 in the air main 2 and steammain 4, respectively, are closed. Each valve is arranged so as to pass asmall quantity of air and steam, respectively, when closed, to keep asmall flow through the producer. Any gas which may perhaps besubsequently evolved, but in small amount, by residual operation of theproducer 1 is discharged into the atmosphere through the blow-off device12, which then opens for this purpose.

During the short pause in the gas supply to the ovens during thereversal period, the reversing apparatus pulley drum 30 rotates furtherand opens the gas cocks 14 by pulley levers 33 to the left in thedrawing from their full line closed position at the right in thedrawing, the levers 33 then assuming the broken-line open position tothe left in the drawing. While this further rotation is in progress thecontacts 31, 28, 29, are still closed. Just before the end of thisfurther rotary movement the pulley drum 30 which evokes opening of thegas cocks 14, a pair of fixed contacts 37 and 38 are bridged by a plate36 movable in synchronism with drum 30, and the resultant energisationof a circuit 39 of the solenoid coil 8 of the air regulator 6 causes thethrottle valve 5 to be fully opened irrespective of the closing of valve5 by the action of the gas pressure in line 10, at which time thepressure is high due to closing of cocks 15, and acts to close valve 5.

At the same time, however, that plate 36 first makes contact withcontacts 37, 38, the bridge plate or piece 31 has passed out ofengagement with contact 28 and the current circuit 26, 27 of thesolenoid coil 25 of the magnetic core 24 is interrupted, so that thevalve member 23 of governor -21 is moved downwards by a compressionspring 40. Consequently pressure fluid flows from 22 into the pipe 20and to the undersides of the pistons in the piston-cylinder assemblies17 and 18, and the shutoifvalves 13 and 16 in the air and steam mainsare thereshort pause, the corresponding procedure occurs.

A safety device 41 is connected to the gas conduit 9 to ensure openingof the shut-01f valves 13 and 16 in the air and steam conduits in theevent of possible damage to the barrel switch of the reversing apparatus30. This safety device 41 has a diaphragm 42 to which is connected aprotective member 43 closing, under normal lean gas pressure conditionsin conduit 9, a pair of contacts 44 incorporated in the lead 26. If nowthe appropriate gas cocks have been opened but the shut-off valves 13and 16 remain closed, the suction of the draft of the regenerative oven49 on main 9 produces a reduced pressure in conduit 9. As a result thediaphragm 42 of the safety device 41 is operated to withdraw the member43 from contacts 44, so breaking the current circuit of solenoid coil 25and opening the shut-01f valves 13 and 16.

The governor 21 and the piston mechanisms 17 and 18 are preferablycombined into one unit and are only dia- It is also possible to providea control device, such as has been described, separately for each gasproducer or in common for a group of adj'acent producersservedcollectively by such control de vice through appropriate conduits.Y

Having now described my invention and in whatmanner the same is to beperformed I declare that all modifications not departing from the spiritof my invention should be included in the following claims.

What I claim is: i

1. Gas flow control apparatus fora gas producer combined withregenerative ovens by a gas line leading from the gas producer to theregenerators of the oven to underfire the ovens with lean gas from theproducer, comprising: a throttle valve in conduit means to the producerfor controllingthe flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer;pressure responsive regulating apparatus responsive to gas pressure inthe line leading from the gas producer to the regenerative oven, forregulating the throttle valve by and in accordance with the gas pressurein said gas line; separate throttle means located beyond said throttlevalve in said conduit means to the producer, for controlling the flow ofgas making gaseous medium into the producer separately from andindependently of said throttle valve; actuating means for said throttlemeans and regulating means associated with said actuating means, foroperating the same to actuate said throttle means independently of saidthrottle valve and its actuating apparatus as well as independently ofthe pressure of gas passing from the producer to the regenerators of theoven; two sets of gas cocks for controlling the flow of lean gas fromthe gas line into the regenerators of a said regenerative oven; reversalapparatus for operating the two sets of gas cocks to first close one setand then later open the other set after a time pause in timed sequenceand in alternation; means operatively connecting said regulating meansfor the actuating means for said separate throttle means with saidreversal apparatus for operation in synchronism therewith to operate theactuating mechanism to actuate said separate throttle means to closesaid conduit means to flow of gas making medium at least as soon as thereversal apparatus operates to first close one set of said lean gascocks, and to open the conduit means to flow of gas making gaseousmedium to the producer after the time pause but at least as soon as thereversal apparatus operates to open the other set of said lean gascocks; and actuating means including regulating means associated withthe reversal apparatus, to open said throttle valve, irrespective of thepressure responsive regulating apparatus on said throttle valve, justbefore the reversal mechanism operates to open the other set of saidlean gas cocks.

2. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and in which themeans operatively connecting the regulating means for the separatethrottle means with the reversal mechanism is connected to close theconduit means to the producer simultaneously with the closure of the oneset of lean gas cocks, and to open the conduit means simultaneously withthe opening of the other set of lean gas cocks by the reversalapparatus.

3. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and in which themeans operatively connecting the regulating means for the separatethrottle means with the reversal mechanism is connected to close theconduit means to the producer immediately before the closure of the oneset of lean gas cocks, and to open the conduit means immediately beforethe opening of the other set of lean gas cocks by the reversalapparatus.

4. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and in which theconduit means for flow of a gaseous medium into the producer comprisesseparate conduits for conveyance of air and steam, and in which theseparate throttle means for said conduit means comprises a separateshut-off valve for each of the separate conduits for the conveyance ofair and steam.

5. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and in which eachof the air and steam shut-01f valves areadap'tedto pass a small quantityof air 'andsteam,

respectively, when closed to shut-off position.

6. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and in which theregulating means comprises an electrical circuit, and the operativeconnection with the reversal apparatus comprises movable contact meanson the reversal apparatus and movable in synchronism therewith, andfixed contacts in the electrical circuit in position to be opened andclosed by the movable contact means during its movement in synchronismwith the reversal apparatus.

7. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and in which theactuating means for the separate throttle means comprises anhydraulically operated mechanism for commanding the opening and closingmovements of the separate throttle means, a valve controlled governorfor controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the hydraulic mechanism,and in which the electrical circuit comprises an electromagnetic meanshaving a movable element movable under energization and de-energizationof the electromagnetic means by the circuit and operatively connectedwith the valve of the governor for effecting the operation of thethrottle means.

8. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and which includes asafety device responsive to the pressure in the lean gas line leadingfrom the producer to the regenerators of the oven and adapted tooperate, in the event of reduced pressure occurring in this line whenthe gas cocks for the regenerators are open, a protective member in theelectrical circuit to thereby cause the operation of the actuating meansfor opening the separate throttle means in the conduit means for supplyof gaseous medium to the gas producer, in event of failure of theoperative connection of the reversal mechanism with the electricalcircuit to operate said circuit to open the throttle means.

9. Gas flow control apparatus for a gas producer combined withregenerative ovens by a gas line leading from the gas producer to theregenerators of the oven to underfire the ovens with lean gas from theproducer, comprising: a throttle valve in conduit means to the producerfor controlling the flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer;pressure responsive regulating apparatus responsive to gas pressure inthe line leading from the gas producer to the regenerative oven, forregulating the throttle valve by and in accordance with the gas pressurein said gas line; two sets of gas cocks for controlling the flow of leangas from the gas line into the regenerators of a said regenerative oven;reversal apparatus for operating the two sets of gas cocks to firstclose one set and then later open the other set after a time pause intimed sequence and actuating means, including regulating meansassociated with the reversal apparatus, to open said throttle valve,irrespective of the pressure responsive regulating apparatus on saidthrottle valve by reason of the gas pressure in the gas line, justbefore the reversal mechanism operates to open the other set of saidlean gas cocks.

10. Gas flow control appparatus as claimed in claim 9 and which includesa safety device responsive to the pressure in the lean gas line leadingfrom the producer to the regenerators of the oven and adapted tooperate, in the event of reduced pressure occurring in this line whenthe gas cocks for the regenerators are open, a protective member in theelectrical circuit to thereby cause the operation of the actuating meansfor opening the separate throttle means in the conduit means for supplyof gaseous medium to the gas producer, in event of failure of theoperative connection of the reversal mechanism with the electricalcircuit to operate said circuit to open the throttle means.

11. Gas flow control apparatus for a gas producer combined withregenerative ovens by a gas line leading from the gas producer to theregenerators of the oven 7 to underfire the ovens with lean gas from theproducer, comprising: a throttle valve in conduit means to the producerfor controlling the flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer;pressure responsive regulating apparatus responsive to gas pressure inthe line leading from the gas producer to the regenerative oven, forregulating the throttle valve by and in accordance with the gas pressurein said gas line; separate throttle means located beyond said throttlevalve in said conduit means to the producer, for controlling the flow ofgas making gaseous medium into the producer separately from andindependently of said throttle valve; actuating means for said throttlemeans and regulating means associated with said actuating means, foroperating the same to actuate said throttle means independently of saidthrottle valve and its actuating apparatus as well as independently ofthe pressure of gas passing from the producer to the regenerators of theoven.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS361,820 Hambleton Apr. 26, 1887 1,246,114 Koppers Nov. 13, 19171,597,365 Keigley et a1. Aug. 24, 1926 1,611,887 Chowning Dec. 28, 19261,635,679 Kus July 12, 1927 1,850,945 Delattre-Seguy Mar. 22, 19321,865,929 Leahy July 5, 1932 1,964,546 Van Ackeren June 26, 19342,554,818 Davis May 29, 1951

1. GAS FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A GAS PRODUCER COMBINED WITHREGENERATIVE OVENS BY A GAS LINE LEADING FROM THE GAS PRODUCER TO THEREGENERATORS OF THE OVEN TO UNDERFIRE THE OVENS WITH LEAN GAS FROM THEPRODUCER, COMPRISING: A THROTTLE VALVE IN CONDUIT MEANS TO THE PRODUCERFOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF GAS MAKING GASEOUS MEDIUM INTO THE PRODUCER;PRESSURE RESPONSIVE REGULATING APPARATUS RESPONSIVE TO GAS PRESSURE INTHE LINE LEADING FROM THE GAS PRODUCER TO THE REGENERATIVE OVEN, FORREGULATING THE THROTTLE VALVE BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GAS PRESSUREIN SAID GAS LINE; SEPARATE THROTTLE MEANS LOCATED BEYOND SAID THROTTLEVALVE IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS TO THE PRODUCER, FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OFGAS MAKING GASEOUS MEDIUM INTO THE PRODUCER SEPARATELY FROM ANDINDEPENDENTLY OF SAID THROTTLE VALVE; ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID THROTTLEMEANS AND REGULATING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACTUATING MEANS, FOROPERATING THE SAME TO ACTUATE SAID THROTTLE MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAIDTHROTTLE VALVE AND ITS ACTUATING APPARATUS AS WELL AS INDEPENDENTLY OFTHE PRESSURE OF GAS PASSING FROM THE PRODUCER TO THE REGENEATORS OF THEOVEN; TWO SETS OF GAS COCKS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LEAN GAS FROMTHE GAS LINE INTO THE REGENERATORS OF A SAID REGENERATIVE OVEN; REVERSALAPPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE TWO SETS OF GAS COCKS TO FIRST CLOSE ONE SETAND THEN LATER OPEN THE OTHER AFTER A TIME PAUSE IN